Discombobulated Much? #SundaySample

Here's hoping you're having a wonderful Easter Sunday. My Sunday Sample today is from - you guessed it - The Thick of Things. Enjoy!

I was a little of everything—embarrassed, confused, speechless. How could he be so sure I was what he wanted? 

No matter what he thought, I had too much going on to be adding a relationship to the list.

“What are you afraid of, Khalila?”

My name on his tongue was a caress that scattered my thoughts. 

“It’s not that I’m afraid of anything.” I pulled my hand out of his and drank the rest of the water while gathering my thoughts. “My divorce isn’t final yet and…” 

My mind settled on Amir, who I didn’t want to think about now. Softly, I sighed. “It’s too early to be thinking about a relationship with anybody.”

“We’ve gone way past the point of thinking about what’s happening between us. I’m not asking you to marry me, but I’m interested in you.” His voice softened and I had to concentrate to hear his words. “Give me the chance to show you that what we did wasn’t only about sex.”

I didn’t know what to say, so I held my silence.

His gaze was analytical and he didn’t seem to expect a response. The longer he looked at me, the more my heart rate accelerated. It was ridiculous that at my age any man could get this kind of response from me.

“I hope that wasn’t all it was for you,” he said.

It took me a few seconds to catch up with him, but I didn’t answer. I was too busy trying not to squirm at the image of him on top of me in his bed.

After reading his watch, Douglas smiled. Why, I didn’t know, but it was a genuine gesture that made 

me want to respond in the same way.

“Are you ready?” he asked.

Nodding, I got out of my seat.

Douglas didn’t crowd me, but let me walk ahead of him. As I wove through the tables, I greeted a few members of the working team, who would also be leaving the hotel today.

Once we were out of the restaurant, Douglas touched my arm and directed me toward the elevator.

“Aren’t you leaving today?” I asked.

“Yes, I’m just making sure you get to where you’re going.”

Putting a smile in my voice, I said, “I’m not likely to get lost on my way upstairs.”

“I didn’t think so.” He laughed and eased both hands into the pockets of his shorts. “I’m simply doing what any decent man would do.”

My cheeky grin conveyed gratefulness and understanding. “Carry on, then.”

​He nodded and in silence, we walked to the elevator. When it was a few floors away, he faced me. “I want to ask one favor of you.”

“What’s that?”

“Answer your phone when I call, okay?”

He stepped in close, kissed my cheek and then brushed his lips across mine.

I sucked in my breath and opened my mouth, wanting more of him, but he stepped back.

The elevator opened and he urged me forward with a gentle hand to my back.

​I walked inside, asking myself what kind of game Douglas was playing. Why would he start something he couldn’t finish, not to mention leave me hot and bothered?

As the doors closed, our gazes locked and I swore that man knew exactly what he was doing and the state he’d left me in.